On April 28, it was reported that Dalmia Bharat Ltd signed a MoU with Ministry of Tourism and ASI, to adopt Delhi’s iconic Red Fort and Andhra Pradesh’s Gandikota Fort. This has been done under the “Adopt a Heritage” scheme. It envisages support from “Monument Mitras” which could be – public enterprises, private enterprises and corporate individuals to enhance India’s tourism potential and increase tourist-friendly facilities.
Fracas followed this decision, most seeing it as delinquency on the part of the Government in its duty to conserve the national heritage. The opposition was quick to reprimand the Centre, terming this as ruling dispensation’s tactic to lease off national heritage. Strong censures followed from other parties as well, Twitter was abuzz with angry tweets.
Upon the details that have emerged so far, there is some scope for concern, but the outrage seems to have been blown out of proportion. Firstly, Dalmia Group shall not play any role in conservation, as was immediately feared. Conservation (restoration/refurbishment) will be exclusively handled by ASI under the extant laws. Dalmia Group would have limited access to non-core areas, as per the Ministry statement. The expert committee that oversees the scheme implementation has the safeguard to terminate the MoU in case of noncompliance with the guidelines.
Under the scheme, Dalmia Group will extend tourist amenities such as the provision of clean water, cleanliness of the surroundings, signage, improving accessibility to the monument and tourist facilitation centre. Additionally, it will assist with tourist flow management, activities such as light and sound shows and facilitation of night visits. This should be a welcome move given the void of such amenities at our heritage sites.
The ‘Adopt a Heritage’ is essentially a non-revenue generating project. It is part of responsible tourism initiative where the Monument Mitra spends his CSR funds for upkeep, maintenance etc and gets limited visibility for the facilities created. (2/2)
— Incredible!ndia (@incredibleindia) April 28, 2018
Globally, government policies are shifting away from the traditional approach to conservation involving direct public funding towards the contemporary trend of the partnership between public and private entities leveraging their respective strengths. Council of Europe, in its multiple conventions and recommendations, has stated the desirability of encouraging private investment in conservation activity. Some European countries have involved private players even in activities of restoring and refurbishing the heritage monuments.
India, being a developing state, has all the more reasons to explore this model. Enormous population pressure tightens the government purse strings. When the state has to account for the inadequate social provisions, crumbling infrastructure and provide massive subsidies, it is understandable that allocation of resources for heritage conservation takes a back seat. Budget allocation for Culture has been lower than 1%, over the years.
We must also consider the fact that partnering with private entities and improving tourist amenities will contribute in increasing the footfall at this sites. This, in turn, has great potential for job generation, given the multiplier effect of the tourism industry. The scheme can be appropriately modified and applied to Museums as well, to provide ancillary services that can enrich the visitor’s experience.
However, there are a couple of causes for caution. The MoU enables Dalmia group to engage in semi-commercial activities such as the right to sell tickets or charge visitors at rates that shall be decided by a joint committee of company representatives, ASI and culture ministry nominees. The government would do well to allay concerns over this by disclosing precise procedure and the activities that could be taken up by the partnering “Monument Mitras”. There needs to be assurance and diligence that activities that might harm the heritage monument shall never be undertaken.
Another concern is the indemnity clause in the memorandum which exonerates Dalmia Group from paying compensation in case of any litigation brought against them arising from work performed. There is a need to contemplate and rethink this clause. The purpose of multiple stakeholders coming together is better served when there is shared accountability. Also, encouraging the involvement of the civil society organisations and NGOs in the consultation process, alongside government and private parties can go a long way in building trust.
Public-private partnerships should be welcome in the effort of ensuring the survival of our heritage. With course-correction, the scheme can be a promising model for elevating India’s tourism credentials. In the quest of sustainable conservation of our glorious heritage sites, this is a step in the right direction.